Highly charged?

The rebellion by consumers against charges imposed by banks for unauthorised borrowing has been gathering momentum. The revelation that the banks’ annual profits will amount to several billion pounds has done little to calm the storm. One high-profile example is the claim brought by barrister Tom Brennan, recently adjourned at the City of London County Court, in which there is even a claim for exemplary damages.

Several websites, such as www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk, provide templates and documents for use in complaining and ultimately for launching proceedings for reclaiming bank charges. One website claims that more than one million people have downloaded complaint forms and template letters.

As a result, the civil justice system is facing an increasing number of such claims. Claimants are, almost without exception, unrepresented, although some have been assisted by lay consultants. There have been some rather misconceived claims; in the first case to come to trial in one northern county court the claimant sought to recover all overdraft interest paid